Events

Treasures of the World, 29, 30 & 31 July, 10.30 - 3.30
The Bowes Museum displays objects from around the world. Explore the collection before trying creative craft activities linked to different countries including Italy, Holland and Greece during this drop in session. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Film Nights at The Witham, 31 July, 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 & 27, 28 August, 7.30pm, £5.00 per ticketMake the most of your visit to this show by combining it with a film...more
Summer School, 3, 10, 17, 24 August, 10.00 – 12.00, £30.00 per child for six sessionsExplore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting.. Children do not need to be accompanied by an adult.

Everyone’s Theatre Company, COSI FAN TUTTE (Mozart), 2 August, 7.00pm, Join Everyone' Theatre Company for a unique evening of glorious music in this stunning and very special venue; the production costumed and with chamber orchestra.

The beautiful music of Mozart's opera belies the cynical plot - sometimes comical; sometimes tugging at the heartstrings. The four lovers, Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando and Guglielmo, are manipulated by Don Alfonso, aided by the maid, Despina. By the end of the opera we wonder will the lovers remain with their original partners or not? If women cannot be relied upon, then neither can men, but that love is a game worth playing - whatever the outcome.

Bug Hunt , 4 August, 10.00-12.30 or 1.30-4.00, Suitable for 5+Can you find any bugs as you explore the Museum grounds? Learn about bug habitats with a wildlife expert and then make a ladybird box to take home for your garden. This event is funded by the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership. Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Prehistoric People Crafts, 6 August, 10.30 - 3.30 Join this drop in session to explore the Prehistoric People exhibition and try making Stone, Bronze and Iron Age inspired creations to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Fantastic Founders – John and Joséphine Bowes, 10 & 11 August, 10.30 - 3.30 Learn about the Museum’s founders in this drop in interactive workshop and make something to take home before exploring their amazing collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Conservation Studios, 11 August,11.00The Conservation Department is pleased to announce that they will be throwing open the studio doors to you for behind-the-scenes tours...more
Talk at The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5SG, 11 August, 2.00, £15.00The Bowes Museum: Past, Present & Future by Dr Howard Coutts, Keeper of Ceramics and Dr Jane Whittaker, Head of Collections.
As part of The Bowes Museum at Tennants series, our speakers will give an insight into the history of the collection from the time when the Founders John and Joséphine Bowes were collecting in earnest for their museum, in the 1860s, to the present day. They will also be exploring how the collection has contributed to the Museum’s reputation as one of the leading museums of European fine and decorative arts in the country and how the Museum is using the collection to develop new strands of activity in the 21st century to meet new opportunities for access and partnership.
The afternoon will also include a ‘Behind the Scenes at Tennants’ tour with Jane Tennant, and afternoon tea.
All tickets are available to purchase from The Garden Rooms reception 01969 621146

Colourful Landscapes, 13 August, 10.30-3.00, Suitable for 4+Have a guided tour of the grounds of the Museum and learn about different types of trees and plants that are growing. Create some bark rubbings and turn them into a personal piece of landscape artwork. This event is funded by the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership. Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Participants must bring a packed lunch.

Creative Cave Painting, 14 August, 10.30 - 3.30Mix your own cave paint and create your own cave painting in this fun drop in workshop. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Afternoon Tea, 15 August, 1.30pm, Adults £35.00, Friends £30.00Enjoy a glass of Pimms in the beautiful Museum grounds before viewing this stunning exhibition, then discuss your favourite dresses with your friends over a afternoon tea in the opulent Jubilee Room

Toys from the Past – Family Fun Day, 18 August, 11.00 – 4.00 Join this fun packed day of drop in fun for all the family. Activities include making a super sock puppet; making a pirate, soldier or princess – what will your peg doll become? - creating a pop up puppet to surprise your friends, and much more. You can also explore the Museum with a toy themed trial. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Simple Samplers, 19 August, 10.30 - 3.30See some amazing samplers in the Museum collection and get stitching during this drop in workshop to create your own sampler bookmark to take home! Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Helen Stephens Storytime, 20 August, 10.30 – 12.00 or 1.00 - 2.30, £4.00 per child Back by popular demand! Children’s author and illustrator Helen Stephens returns with a fun packed workshop. Listen to Helen reading some of her stories; learn tips on how to draw characters and make a simple craft linked to her picture book. Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.

Tour at The Bowes Museum, 20 August, 3.00, £20.00 (tickets limited)As part of The Bowes Museum at Tennants series, we invite you to The Bowes Museum for a Ceramics Preview: A Tour of the Developing Galleries with Dr Howard Coutts, Keeper of Ceramics. The afternoon begins with tea and scones followed by the tour.
From 5.00 you will be able to view the Yves Saint Laurent – Style is Eternal exhibition.
All tickets are available to purchase from The Garden Rooms reception 01969 621146

Lates! at The Bowes Museum, 20 August, 5.00 – 10.00, £28.00 Adult, £25.00 FriendsCome and join TV food historian Dr. Annie Gray to learn about the relationship between French and British cuisine through history,experience the Museum and this exhibition after hours with a late bar and delicious food in Café Bowes...more
Prehistoric People Crafts, 21 August, 10.30 - 3.30 Join this drop in session to explore the Prehistoric People exhibition and try making Stone, Bronze and Iron Age inspired creations to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Creative Cave Painting, 24 & 25 August, 10.30 - 3.30 Mix your own cave paint and create your own cave painting in this fun drop in workshops. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Squirrel Hunt, 26 August, 10.00-11.30, 12.00-1.30 or 2.30-4.00, Suitable for 8 and underWalk around the grounds of the Museum and learn about the different habitats which exist with a wildlife expert. See if you can spot a squirrel and then make a mask. This event is funded by the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership. Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Spectacular Silk Painting, 27 August, 10.00 - 12.00 or 1.00 - 3.00, £4.50 per child Explore the Museum’s collection and sketch your favorite object before turning it into a silk painting. Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.

Yves Saint Laurent, 28 August, 10.30-3.30Try a selection of crafts linked to this stunning fashion exhibition. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Conservation Studios, 9 September, 11.00The Conservation Department is pleased to announce that they will be throwing open the studio doors to you for behind-the-scenes tours...more
Fashion Illustration, 12 September, 9.30 - 5.00, Adults £40.00, Friends £38.00Join Freelance Fashion Illustrator Frances Moffat to learn how to produce your own mini portfolio fashion illustrations. The workshop will also provide advice on ‘getting started’, winning commissions and marketing your work. Includes morning refreshments, admission to exhibition and all materials.

Lates! at The Bowes Museum, 17 September, 5.00 – 10.00, £14.00 Adult, £12.00 ConcessionsCome and experience the Museum and this exhibition after hours with a late bar and delicious food in Café Bowes...more
Knitted Fabric Design, 4 October, 10.00-1.30 & 1.00-4.30, Adults £32.00, Friends £29.00Join knitwear designer Joan Murray to create your own fabric using a knitting machine to produce your own designs...more
Magnificent Millinery, 10 October, 10.00-5.00, Adults £82.00, Friends £79.00Be inspired by the hats in the exhibition and make a small hat to take away with milliner Claire Spooner...more
Lates! at The Bowes Museum, 22 October, 5.00 – 10.00, £14.00 Adult, £12.00 ConcessionsCome and experience the Museum and this exhibition after hours with a late bar and delicious food in Café Bowes...more
Salons, 22 October, 6.00Listen, discuss and debate current fashion design issues and share ideas with an ‘In Conversation With’ panel of well-known academics, journalists, curators and critics from the field of fashion design.

Filming Fashion: Fashioning Film, 24 October, 10.00 - 6.00,ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUMCoinciding with the UK exclusive exhibition, Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal, this symposium brings together scholars and practitioners to consider the dynamic, mutually reinforcing relationship between fashion and film. The symposium, convened by The Bowes Museum and Durham University’s Centre for Visual Arts and Cultures, will consider how film influences trends in fashion, and how the presence of fashion (and the history of fashion) is captured on film, and how the presence of fashion affects cinematic culture.

Toytastic, 26 October, 10.30 - 3.30Join this drop in workshop to explore the Dolls, Bears and Robots gallery. Have a go at playing with some replica toys before making one to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Wild Animals - Family Fun Day, 27 October, 11.00 - 4.00 Join in this action packed day of drop in fun for all the family. Meet an incredible range of friendly animals from Jay’s Animal Encounters including snakes, scorpions, spiders and much more! Paint a piece of aboriginal inspired artwork, make a paper chain ssssssnake, create a standing meerkat, design a wild animal mask and explore the Museum with a wild animal trail. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.

Halloween Crafts, 28, 29 & 30 October, 10.30 - 12.00 or 1.00 - 2.30, £4.00 per child Be brave and take part in these Halloween themed craft workshops. Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.

Christmas Fun, 21 & 22 December, 10.30 – 12.00 or 1.00 - 2.30, £4.00 per child Get into the festive spirit by creating some wonderful crafts to make your Christmas Day extra special! Booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.

Quilting with Pauline Burbidge, 3 - 5 March 2016, 10.00 - 4.30, £235.00 Adult, £230.00 FriendsJoin textile artist Pauline Burbidge at this 3 day non-residential workshop to learn a selection of design & printing techniques, including mono and cyanotype printing, and drawing with resistant fluid. There will be plenty of opportunity to experiment, incorporate your own individual style and discuss your aims for your future work with Pauline. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Includes lunch and refreshments. Suitable for participants of all abilities.